Toy vehicle



July 21, 1925 1,546,431

E. N. BRANDT TOY VEHICLE INV NTOR ATTORNEY JLdy Z1, 1925.'

E. N. BRANDT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 w/ um Il! INVENTOR 5dr/van /gf'df BY mi 7M y ATTORNEY l 1 4 n I Patented July 21, 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT (')FFICE.v

ERDMANN N'. BRANDT, OF TARRYTOEVN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 FERDINAND STRAUSS CORPORATION, A CORPORATION F NEW YORK.

TOY VEHICLE.

Application led October 11, 1924.

10 all I1li/710m t n? 0,1/ concern Be it known that ERDMANN N. BRANDT, a citizen of the United States, residing at and whose post-office address is Hillside Place, Tarrytown, New York, have invented a new Toy Vehicle, of which the following is a specification. y

This invention relates to toy passenger conveyances and the object thereof is a novel and amusing` device of this character.

The invention resides in a toy passenger conveyance, specifically of the automobile type, which is adapted to cause simulated passengers carried thereby to be thrown from the vehicle in an amusing and ludicrous manner, as for example by being violently somersaulted or catapulted head first therefrom, In the preferred embodiment the passenger is automatically somersaulted through the car roof when the vehicle meets an obstruction, and the mechanism, organization and timing are such as to assure exact duplications of the catapulting or somesaulting acts at each operation of the der vice. The invention further consists in causing a simulated chauffeur or other occupant to be thrown to a ludicrous position simultaneously with the somersaulting of the passenger. The invention also contemplates a novel correlated mechanism for effecting these objects and especially a mechanism of few and simple parts and capable of inexpensive and economical manufacture.

For a better understanding of the invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a side view ofan automobile passenger vehicle embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a bottom view thereof.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view therethrough.

Fig. 4L is a plan view thereof, and

F ig. 5 is a partial cross sectional view on the line 5 5 of Fig. 3.

Referring to the drawings I have illustrated my invention as embodied in a conveyance 1 of the automobile type having a conventionally illustrated top 2. The latter has a roof 3 also of conventional form, except that it is provided with a rectangular opening normally closed by a pair of closing doors or flaps 4L. The doors 4 may be hinged to the sides of the opening in the roof 3 in any suitable manner, but are indi- Serial No. 743,068.

cated as provided with flexible flaps 5 glued respectively to the roof 3- and thev door lids or closures 4L. The door closures 4 fall by gravity to the closed position upon the ledges 6, the doors opening upwardly. A simulated passenger is indicated at 7, the latter being carried by a rear seat 8. The seat 8 is carried by a. rearwardly extending floor member 9 and the latter normally forms a continuation of the forwardly extending frame member 10, but is Ahinged thereto by a hinge member 11. The rearwardly extending floor member 9 is therefore capable of pivotal movement about the relatively fixed member 10 in an upward direction, an opening 12 in the rear of the body 2 permitting the rear end of the memb-er 9 to play up and down therein. The member 9 carries at its forward end and on the under side thereof .a downwardly pro- `iecting bracket member 13 and to the lower end of this bracket 13 is attached one end of a tension spring 14a-the other end of this spring 14 being attached to some fixed portion of the vehicle, as for example to the rear cross piece 16 by means of a screw attachment 15. .The spring 14 is normally under tension and by pulling on the bracket 13 tends to throw the rearward end of the member 9 to its uppermost position, indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. The member 9, however, together with its seat 8 and simulated passenger 7, is normally retained in its lowermost position by means of a holding and tripping mechanism comprising a trigger or catch member 18 pivotally carried by a plate 19 which in turn is carried by and bridges the axle 17 and the r-ear frame member 16. The retaining member 18 projects up through an opening provided in the plate 19 and on its free end is provided with a catch 2O cooperating with a stationary lug or lip 21 which is suitably fastened to the under side of the longitudinal member 9 and projects out into the opening provided therein for the reception of the catch 2O of the member 18.l The member 18 is normally pulled forward with its catch 2O in a retaining position above the lug 21 by means of a mechanism including a forwardly extending rod 22, a reciprocable bumper frame 24 and a tension spring 23. The rod 22 is indicated as passing through the rear shaft. 17 and provided with a hook 22 through which the pivoted retaining lli) member 1S passes to provide a suitable operative connection therewith. The bumper frame 24 includes a conventionally illustrated bumper 25 which is rigidly fixed to vand carried by the lforwardly extending-arms 26 which are joined together at their rear ends by a cross piece 2'2". The frame reciprocates back and forth through suitable supports such as carrying eye members ffixed to the under side of the body frame. The spring 23 is i'iredat its forward end vto the und-er 'side vof thek vehicle 'body frame in any suitable manner, .as for .enamplejby the screw attachment 29and it extends rearwardly with itsreaiend fastenedtofthe 'cross piece or' rod 217, lcarried by the longitudinal frame members 26. 'The rod 22 4is attached at its 'forward end tothe cross piece '27 in any suitable manner, as for example with a hoolred end 30 'passing therearound, similarly to 'the vattachment with the retaining member '18. vThe springQS is normally'under tension and therefore pulls forwardly on the bumper frame andthe rod 22m hold the retaining` and tripping member 18 in its 'foremost position. `A lug or upwardly .extending projection 31 is carried by `the foi'- ward part of the seat Sand fir-:ed thereto in any'suitable'maiiner, as 'for example by the screw attachment indicated. The .purpose of this'is to enablelthe'proper positioning of the passenger? uponthe seat,'nam'ely with his legs stra'ddlingthis projection, so'as to center the passen-erupon the seat and also to prevent :his slipping 'forwa.rd"fthereon when the vehicle "comes to a sudden stop.

'The operation of the mechanism described is as follows: In Fig. 3" and in the full Aline position.indicatedin Fig. 1 'the retaining vor latch'member '18 'engages'thelug or lip 21 to hold the -floor member 9 Vinvitslowermost position. V:By tripping this latcln'however, as for example, by Vmeansof the` bumper 25 meeting an obstruction and Ithereby'transmitting 'movement through the rod 22 :to the member 18 'to disengage it, the vpivoted member 9 isthrown abruptlyto the'dotted position shown in Fig. 1 by mean-sof 4the spring 14 which is undertension'for thisgpurpose. The abrupt and violent movement of the pivoted seat carrier member 9 to its-'uppermost position and there suddenly arrested, results in the catapult-ing or somersaulting of the passenger 7 through the opening provided in .the roof of the car, the door flaps 4 ope-ning as 'the passenger 'passes through and automatically closing again by V.gravity after the passenger has passed therethrough in the forward somersaulting movement. The dot-.dash position Vindicates a forward position 'of the passenger after passing through the openingand beyond the-doors 4. ,The construction .rand arrangement is preierably such that the doors 4 are engaged by the passenger 17 and begin their'opening l'passenger movement beforethe inember 9 reaches its uppermost position andv before the passenger 'l' leaves the seat 8. fr positive initial opening movement of the doors 4 is thus effected by the direct transmission of opening force from the spring 14 through the floor omember 9, the seat 8 and the passenger 7. This assures the exact duplication of the somersaulting acts at each operation thereof, the passenger being` thrown head foremost through the doors which close after such or passengers have passed therethrough and been somersaulted over the front end ofthe vehicle. The dotted position in Fig. 1 `indicates thisjpreferred construction and mode of operationr whereby the initial opening movement of the doors is effected through the direct transmission of'jpower from the spring v14 without ynecessitatingany reliance ou the momentum of the passenger 7 alone to effect' this initial lopening movement. v

I have also correlated vwith the structure and mechanism above described a mechanism for throwinoasunulated chaufteuror a: pilot Bte a ludicrous position, simultane` ously with the eatapulting` or lsomersaulting 'r' 4- of the passenger i through the topbrthe roof. vllormally the simulated chaulteur rests in the 1 drivers seat and vis Vindicate-d as gripping a control mechanism 35. ln the .particular embodiment shown the chauffeur '83 Ais caused to be hurled head `foremost through 'the windshield 36 of the car Awith his head and ycontrol part '35 resting upon thehood of the car. This'is effectedthrough theinedium of a plunger 3l' passing through the seat 34 with its upper *end underneath Vthe chauffeur 83 and with itslower'end resting vupon the pivote-d llioor member 9. 'The .plunger 37'may, if desired, be provided with the beveled head 37 resting` in a. counter-sunk seat about the opening passing through theseat 34, and on its lower end it may carry a suitable retaining device such as' a pin for preventing it from passing out through the seat 34 when the 'mechanism is ripped. By means of this correlated'iuechanism the chauffeur 33 is thrown forwardly through the windshield simultaneously with the throwingof the passenger 7 forwardly through the roof of the car. lf desire-d'the occupants of the car, such as `:the chauffeur 33, maybe'attaclied to the carin amanner to prevent vthe loss thereof, as for'example by-pivotally connecting` 'the chauffeur 33 to a lined portion or bracketY projectingl backwardly fromthe windshield frame, the fixed bracket portion being straddled by t 1e chauffeur and pivotally'connected thereto as indicated at 40.

yl have illustrated my invention as embodied in the conventional 'automobile passenger vehicle which may be driven iii any suitable'manner to cause the bumper 25 to engage with an obstruction and thereby trip the mechanism for causing the catapulting acts, the power driving means such for example as a spring motor mechanism being omitted from the drawings for Convenience in illustration. f

Having thus described my invention, what ,l claim and desire to protect by Letters Patent is:

l. ln a toy vehicle, a passenger compartment, a top therefor having an opening theretlu'ough, a support disposed within the compartment and adapted to support a simulated occupant in line with said opening, means for abruptly actuating a simulated occupant resting on said support in an upward direction to cause it to be abruptly ejected through the opening in the top and from the compartment, a retaining device normally maintaining' the actuating means in the inactive position and a device operable from an obstruction disposed in the. path of the vehicle for releasing the same to canse the simulated occupant to be abruptly ejected from the compartment and through the opening upon the vehicle encountering the obstruction.

2. A toy vehicle of the character set forth in claim l wherein the ejecting mechanism is such' to cause the simulated occupant to be thrown head-first through the opening' in the top and over the front end of the vehicle.

3. A toy vehicle comprising a passenger compartment, a top or roof for said compartment, said top having' an opening therethrough which a closing flap opening in an upward direction, a movable support for an occupant disposed within the compartment, an actuating motor device for abruptly actuating said support in an upward direction, and controlling means operable by an obstruction in the path of the vehicle to canse said motor actuating` device to abruptly catapult a simulated occupant through said opening in the roof and over the front end of the vehicle.

et. A toy vehicle comprising a passenger compartment, a roof for said compartment,

movable support for a simulated occupant disposed within the compartment, a spring motor means engaging said support and normally urging it in an upward direction, a retaining device ,normally holding said support in the inactive position against the force of said spring motor means, and a longitudinally reciprocable bumper for releasing said retaining device and permitting the spring motor to abruptly actuate the support and abruptly eject a simulated occupant in an upward direction against said roof.

5. A toy vehicle comprising a passenger compartment, a roof for said compartment havin@ an opening therein, a closing flap forsaid opening opening in an upward direction, a movable support for a simulated occupant disposed within the compartment, a spring motor means engaging said support and normally tending to actuate said snp port and a simulated occupant carried thereby to a position to engage and positively initiate the opening movement of said flap before the support is arrested in its upward movement, and controlling means for` setting said spring motor means into operation to violently catapult the simulated occupant through the open door of the roof.

G. A toy vehicle of the character set forth in claim wherein a reciprocable bumper mechanism is provided for releasing the movable support and permitting the spring motor to abruptly actuate said support in an upward direction.

7. A toy vehicle of the character set forth in claim 5 wherein the means for controlling the spring motor and permitting it to abruptly actuate the occupants support oomprises a device operable by coming into contact with an obstruction disposed in the path of the vehicle.

8. A toy vehicle comprising a passenger compartment, an voccupants seat therein carried by a pivoted movable member, a spring motor means engaging said support and tending to actuate it to a position against a stop, a retaining device normally holding the seat support inits inactive position against the tension of the spring motor, a longitudinally reciprocable bumper frame normally biased to its foremost position and having an operative connection with said retaining device for releasing it when moved against the tension of the spring and permitting the spring motor to abruptly throw the movable seat and its pivoted carrying member to its position against said stop.

9. A toy vehicle of the character set forth in claim 8 wherein the passenger compartment is provided with a roof having an opening and a closing lap therefor, the arrangement being such that the closing flap is engaged by a simulated occupant carried by the movable seat before the movable seat support reaches its stopped position.

10. A toy vehicle of the character set forth in claim S wherein the movable seat is pro# vided with retaining means to prevent the slipp-ing or dislocation of the simulated passenger therefrom. n

11. A toy vehicle comprising a windshield frame and an adjacent occupants compartment, a simulated occupant carried in said compartment, an actuating device adapted to engage said simulated occupant and throw the same headlong through the vehicle windshield frame, and means for normally r taining the actuating device in an inactive position, but capable of ready release for permitting the actuating device to abruptly 1 ifo eject the Vsimulated occupant headlong through the Windshieldv frame.

12. A toy vehicle kcomprising a' drvers con'ipartment and a Windshield frame, a

simulated occupant normally carried in said compartment, power means for egecting said simulated occupant abruptly through the Windshield' frame7 a retaining deViceno-rmally holding said power means in aninactive position and a bumper ineehanism actuated by engagement With' air ob-` struction in the path ofthe Vehicle 'for releasing` the retaining` devicefand permitting` the power means to abruptly throw the simulatedA occupant: head-first' through the Windshieldy frame. f

13. AL toy Vehicleof the'character set forth in claim llly wherein a second simulated occupantA carried: by. the Vehicle is ejected orcatapultedV rommtheA vehicle siinulta neously4 with the aloruptI ejection ofthe-other occupant through the Windshield; j

14. A toyvehcle of thecharacter. set forth in claim 4 Whe-rein the .opening in the'top is normally closed with a pair o1 double aps which are engaged along their meeting'` edges andopened bythe-simulated occupant upon ejectionv :trom the vehicle.I

In testimony whereof, I have signedv my naine to this specification.

ERDMANN` N. BRANDT. 

